If Saturday's road victory at Iowa State gave Cal basketball coach Mike Montgomery a little better understanding of his callow Bears, tonight's game at Haas Pavilion against nationally ranked San Diego State should provide him with even more of a clue about his team.

Or maybe not. The Aztecs, after all, are undefeated and ranked 14th and start three seniors. The Bears counter with a 5-2 record and a starting lineup that includes two freshmen.

"We've hung in against pretty much everybody," Montgomery said. "Defensively, physically, we haven't backed down from anybody. We're pretty good physically when it comes to competing against people. We're just not a well-oiled unit just yet."

Montgomery hopes five straight home games will act as WD-40 for the Bears before they start Pac-10 play Jan. 2 at Stanford.

For its part, San Diego State is trying to start the season 9-0 for the first time in school history. Coach Steve Fisher is getting excellent play from 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard (16.3 points per game, 10.4 rebounds) and two other forwards, 6-9 senior Malcolm Thomas (9.3, 5.9) and 6-8 senior Billy White (12.6, 4.3).

"Leonard might be one of the best players on the West Coast," Montgomery said. "It's a very veteran team that's very capable. They're going to have a heck of a preseason record going into their conference."

For the Bears, junior guard Jorge Gutierrez and junior forward Harper Kamp are both averaging a dozen points a game. The team's lone senior, Markhuri Sanders-Frison, has improved his offensive game of late, making 15 of 18 shots over the last three games.

"There's a certain toughness about them that finds a way to compete," Montgomery said of his team. "The key is the veteran leadership of Harper, Markhuri and Jorge."

Sanders-Frison has a sore left Achilles tendon and pain from plantar fasciitis on the bottom of both feet. He's trying to find an accommodating pair of size-15 sneakers to ease the pain in his feet. Otherwise, he might have no choice but to sit out some games.